Massage device



Feb. 5, 1940. H, E N|EM|EC 2,189,116

MASSAGE DEVICE Filed July 26, 1959 752/ F g. i

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S ff (i fig/l 7 H Ll @f5 7 me/Mofa Har/7e fte E., N/em/eca Patented Feb. 6, 1940 1 Claim.

This invention relates to massage devices and more particularly to a suction cup especiallyde` signed for reducing or eliminating surplus fatty tissues from the body and `for the treatment of various physical ailments.

The object of the invention. is to provide massage device of simple and inexpensive con.- struction by means of which the slrin and muscles may be thoroughly kneaded or massagecl so as tok induce the flow of `blood to the treated area and eliminate excessive fatty tissues while at the same time stimulating and vitalizing the parts so that the iiesh and muscles will be smooth and firm.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a manuallyoperable massage device comprising a compressible bulb and a suction head connected therewith by an intermediate flexible neck or bellows whereby, when the bulb is compressed and manually reciprocated, said bulb will impart a pulsating movement to the, flesh confined within the area of the suction head to thoroughly massage the same.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a massage device embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View,

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the bulb compressed and the massage device in position on the area of the flesh to be treated, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View showin in full lines the position of the parts on the downward movement of the bulb and in dotted lines the position of the parts on the upward movement of said bulb.

The improved massage device is principally de-` signed for use by nurses, doctors and others for reducing or eliminating surplus fatty tissues from` the body and in the treatment of goiter and other physical ailments.

The device is preferably' molded or `otlcierwise formed from rubber or other flexible material and comprises a compressible bulb 5 and a suction head 6 connected by a flexible intermediate bellows-shaped neck l. The lower end of the bulb 5 communicates with the interior of the bellows 'l and the lower portion of the bellows communicates with the suction head 6 so that, when the bulb 5 is reciprocated, a pulsating movement will (o1. iesfsoor be imparted to the iiesh conned within the area of the head .E5 thereby to induce the flow of blood to said `confined area and thoroughly massage the parts. The suctionhead 6 is provided at its lower or open end with an inwardly extendingange 8 having a flat lower surface for contact with the body while the upper portion of the suction cup is tapered inwardly in the direction of thel bellows-shaped neck l to form an inclined stop shoulder, as indicated yat 9, dening a weakened portion lil at the junction ofthewall 9 and the adjacent end of the bellows 'l so that, when downward pressure is exerted on the bulb, the lower inclined wall Il of the bellows will become distorted and bear against the inclined wall or stop shoulder il of the suction cup, as best shown in Figure 4 ofthe drawing. The fact that the upper portion of the cup is tapered also allows the bulb and the neck to have universal tilting movement to an inclined position in which thelbulb may be `conveniently grasped when the cup is applied n `under an arm; or to some other portion of the body which cannot beeasily reached.

In using the device, the surface of the body to be treated is rst preferably moistened with water or an Epsom vsalt solution, after which the bulb `5 is `compressed and the suction head 6 `pressed `against the part to be treated and in which `neck 'l will be distorted and bear" against `the inclined. wall or shoulder 9 so as to limit the downward movement ofthe bellows and prevent said bellows from coming in contact with the nesh at the suction head, as indicated in full vlines in Figure 4 of the drawing, and on the upward movement of the bulb, the inherent elastic properties of the bellows 'l' will cause it to assume its normal shape, as indicated in dotted lines in said figure. It will therefore, be seen that compression of the bulb 5 serves to produce sufficient suction to hold the device on the iiesh and after i; Unirse `stares y rerum gOFFICE :di ai being so positioned manual reciprocation of the bulb causes rapid deformation and restoration of tends to reduce swelling. and the like.

tissues confined within the suction head without any mechanical parts of the device other than the suction head coming in contact with the flesh. It will further be noted that, when the bellows 1 is in collapsed position, the weakened or restricted portion l0 permits the bulb 5 together with the bellows to be tilted freely in a circular path on the inclined Wall 9 of the suction head as a universal joint to selected inclined positions so that pulsations may be imparted to the entire area of the esh confined within the head.

While the device is principally designed for removing surplus fatty body tissues, said device may be used with equally good results in the treatment of various physical ailments, such as goiter, swell'- ings, pains and the like, as the pulsations produced by reciprocation of the bulb induces the ow of blood to the aected partsV and thus promotes a healthy condition of the body tissues and When the device is to be removed, suicient pulling force is exerted todetach it.

It will, of course, be understood that the massage devices may be made in diierent sizes and shapes without departing from the spirit of the invention, the salient feature of which resides in the bellows-shaped neck which causes rapid pulsations of the flesh within the suction head when the compression bulb is reciprocated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A massage device comprising a compressible bulb, an open-ended suction head having its upper portion tapered to form an upwardly inclined stop shoulder, and a reversely inclined collapsible bellows connecting the bulb and shoulder, said bellows when collapsed engaging the shoulder to limit thevv downward movement of the bellows and prevent contact thereof with the flesh at said suction head.

HARRIE'I'IE E. NIEMIEC. 

